A novel vehicle routing problem for vaccine distribution using SIR epidemic model

Nafiseh Shamsi Gamchi (), S. Ali Torabi () and Fariborz Jolai ()
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Nafiseh Shamsi Gamchi: University of Tehran
S. Ali Torabi: University of Tehran
Fariborz Jolai: University of Tehran

OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, 2021, vol. 43, issue 1, No 5, 155-188

Abstract: Abstract Vaccines and refrigerated trucks are critical resources for controlling the spread of epidemic diseases. This paper addresses a novel bi-objective vehicle routing problem to distribute vaccines among different regions to control the spread of communicable diseases in the aftermath of a disaster. The developed model aims to minimize the social cost incurred by considering different priority groups under the SIR epidemic model and the cost of vehicles used simultaneously. A hybrid solution procedure is developed using the weighted augmented $$\varepsilon$$ ε -constraint method, optimal control theory, and dynamic programming. To evaluate the performance of the model and the solution approach, four small test problems and an illustrative example inspired by a real case are presented and their numerical results are discussed.

Keywords: Vaccine distribution; Epidemic model; Vehicle routing problem; Priority groups; Optimal control; Dynamic programming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00291-020-00609-6

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